Latest news with #Kojo
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘A Different World' Sequel Series Pilot at Netflix Adds Six Series Regulars
Netflix's followup to 'A Different World' has added six cast members to the pilot, Variety has learned from sources. Chibuikem Uche has been cast as Kojo along with Maleah Joi Moon as Deborah, Cornell Young as Shaquille, Jordan Aaron Hall as Amir, Alijah Kai Haggins as Rashida, and Kennedi McClure as Hazel. More from Variety 'America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' Season 2 Sets June Netflix Premiere Date (EXCLUSIVE) Netflix's Manga Adaptation 'Bet' Isn't Worth the Gamble: TV Review Ten Takes on the Making of Netflix's Epic Series 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' Netflix declined to comment. The followup to 'A Different World' was first reported to be in development in August 2024, with the pilot being announced in March. As reported at that time, the new series would return to Hillman College, a fictional historically Black university, and follow the daughter of original series characters Whitley and Dwayne. Felicia Pride serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner on the project. Debbie Allen, Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Bythewood also serve as executive producers. Werner produced the original show via The Carsey-Werner Company, while Allen also produced and directed the bulk of the original's 144 episodes. Sources say she would also direct the new pilot. 'A Different World' began as a spinoff of 'The Cosby Show' and followed Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) as she attends Hillman. But after Bonet departed the series following its first season, the focus shifted to characters played by Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, Cory Tyler, Lou Myers, Darryl M. Bell, Cree Summer, and Charnele Brown. Netflix has eschewed a traditional pilot process for most of its history, only announcing their first ever pilot order in 2023. The streamer has instead focused on straight-to-series orders or script-to-series deals for their shows. But Netflix also previously said that it would never have ads on the service only to begin offering an ad-supported tier in November 2022. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kojo Launches AI Tool Suite to Help Contractors Combat Rising Material Costs
SAN FRANCISCO, April 18, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kojo, the leading construction procurement platform, today announced the launch of a new suite of AI-powered tools designed to help contractors reduce the impact of rising material costs. As pricing volatility driven by global tariffs continue to put pressure on margins, Kojo's latest innovation gives contractors a competitive edge by making sourcing faster, smarter, and more cost-effective. The new AI tools help contractors: Instantly compare pricing across multiple suppliers Forecast material cost changes and availability Identify cost-saving opportunities to source from your own warehouse and bulk buys Automate purchasing recommendations based on historical data and supplier trends "Contractors are navigating one of the most volatile materials markets in decades," said Maria Davidson, CEO of Kojo. "Our AI suite is designed to take the guesswork out of procurement. It puts real-time intelligence in the hands of project teams so they can stay ahead of price spikes, supply issues, and project delays." To help construction professionals understand and prepare for material cost volatility, Kojo is also hosting a free industry webinar: "Bracing for Tariffs: Procurement Strategies to Protect Your Bottom Line" Date: April 28th, 2025, 12:00 pm Central Time Register Here: This session will explore how contractors can adapt their purchasing strategies in the face of new tariffs, inflation, and global uncertainty. Kojo's AI tools are integrated directly into the workflows that field and office teams already use, so adoption is seamless. With over 500 contractors managing billions of dollars in material spend through Kojo, the platform is quickly becoming the industry standard for intelligent procurement. To learn more or schedule a demo, visit About Kojo Kojo is the leading construction procurement platform, powering how contractors buy and manage materials. From field requests to supplier coordination, Kojo streamlines the entire purchasing process so contractors can save money, reduce waste, and finish jobs on time. View source version on Contacts Press Contact: Matthew HernandezVice President of Growth, Kojopress@ Sign in to access your portfolio
The Guardian
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Eddie Kadi: ‘People think I'm always ready to crack jokes. If you're a doctor, I don't ask you to operate on me!'
How did you get into comedy?I feel like comedy got into me. At university, I hosted talent shows as part of the African and Caribbean society, and became popular on the university circuit. After that, someone said: 'You're a pretty funny host, you should try standup.' One of my first gigs was at Kojo's Comedy Funhouse, performing these funny songs. But explaining those songs made people laugh even more. I didn't even realise I was doing standup. It was never planned, but the moment I got a taste for it, it was just one gig after another. I never looked back. Who did you admire when you were first starting out?I remember watching Richard Blackwood. His shows would come on TV pretty late and if I caught my parents in a good mood, they would let me watch until the end. I used to love Bruce Forsyth. Ronnie Corbett was hilarious. I was a big fan of Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin. It was never a case of wanting to be them – but I guess that was me taking in their energy. What's your show, Let Me Land, about?Growing up in my community, 'let me land' means: let me finish or let me get to the point before you cut me off. The show is a reflection on my life, coming to this country as an asylum seeker and all the things that transpired off the back of that. From the array of African dance styles to your own Strictly journey, dance is central to the show. How does rhythm intersect with your comedy?I come from a country where we love dancing and entertainment. For many, it's a form of escapism, but it's also a deep part of our culture. It's how you express yourself, whether at a wedding, a club, in church, it's all the same. Growing up, I listened to all different types of music, but especially Congolese music, which is full of rhythm and naturally encourages the gyrating of the hips. It was always something I wanted to make a part of me. It's almost impossible to separate myself from music, dance and culture, so I found a unique way to incorporate it into my storytelling. When I got Strictly, I thought I was the best dancer in the world. I thought I was ready because I believed I could dance naturally. Then I discovered there was so much more to it than the dances I was used to. I learned that the hard way. Do you have any preshow rituals?I pray. A lot of the time I get confidence from knowing I can speak to God. I also do my little stretches before I come out. If you ever see me backstage, I'm moving my hips. Maybe I can hear the DJ but usually I am dancing to absolutely no music. What's been one of your all-time favourite gigs?The O2 Arena was a significant moment for me, because it was a coming of age. I felt like I had arrived. I was the first black British comic to headline the biggest stage. It was a great moment for me to express myself, and really gave me confidence during a time when the black comedy circuit wasn't getting a lot of big stage moments. So, for me, that always stays to my heart. Any bugbears from the world of entertainment?People expect you to be exactly what they see on stage. Most of the time, you're just going about your day, out with friends or family, when someone catches you. With me, because they've seen me dancing on stage, it's usually, 'Give us a dance.' No, I'm not busking for you alone! People assume you're always in a happy, jolly mood or ready to crack jokes. And then there's that classic moment when you tell someone you're a comedian, and they go, 'Go on then, make me laugh.' Mate, if you're a doctor, I'm not going to ask you to operate on me right there, am I? Can you recall a gig that's so bad it's now funny?It was at the old BBC building in White City, a corporate gig with a few other comics. I'd just come off a high from back-to-back shows; that feeling when everything's working, no matter the audience. But something went wrong. I didn't change my material or say anything different. The audience just stared at me. The loudest silence I'd ever heard. It just kept going. I remember thinking: Do I just push through to the end? I must have come on too cocky. I finished my set, said, 'That's my time,' and that got the biggest cheer of the whole performance. When you bomb that badly, you start wondering, why am I even doing this? I genuinely considered getting a nine-to-five … I thought about my old Tesco job and whether it was still available. What's the best advice you've ever been given?You can only be your best, authentic self. Your story is enough. The second-best piece of advice, at this stage in my life, is eat as many greens as possible. What's an important lesson you have learned from being a standup and presenter?The audience wants you to win – especially when they've come to see you. Even if they've just come to see a comedy show where you're one of the acts performing. Also, with standup, for me, definitely take a flannel on stage, because, like Lee Evans, I sweat a lot. Eddie Kadi: Let Me Land is on tour until 11 October
